Spring structure



Filed Sept. 8, 1927 Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED'ST'ATES' PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAM C. WISNER, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSICNOR T0 REYNOLDS SPRINGCOMPANY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN. I

SPRING STRUCTURE.

Application filed September a, 1927. Serial m5. 218,319.

This invention relates to spring structures.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of a deviceconstructed for ready application to a base frame of common form so asto secure the lower edge of an upholstery skirt to the common base frameto conceal and protect the skirt from wear at the lower edge of the baseframe.

Another object is to provide a device constructed to embrace a portionof a base frame of spring structures to strengthen the base frame and tosecure the marginal edge of the upholstery skirt against the base frameto protect the skirt from abrasion and wear at the lower edge of thebase frame.

Another object is to provide a spring structure embodying among othercharacteristics, means whereby to clamp the marginal edge of theupholstery skirt to the outer side, top and bottom faces of the baseframe comprising a suitable clamping member having a groove adapted toembrace the base frame and also having flanges, one to extend under thebase frame and the other to extend upwardly beyond the horizontal planeof the base frame, the groove being arranged at the juncture betweensaid flanges and the clamping member being secured to the base frame bya pinching action on the same whereby to'secure the base frame and skirtand clamping member together.

A still further object is to provide a device for securing together aspring structure in cluding a metallic base frame, and the marginal edgeof an upholstery skirt and a wood base upon which the upholstered springstructure is mounted. I

7 With the above and other objects in view, theinvention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion and minor details of construction,within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit .or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: V

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view through a spring structure illustratingone roam of j the present invention applied thereto.

' Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one form of the lnvention unapplied.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modified form ofclamping member.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the modified form of clamping memberapplied to a wood base. 7 Referring now more particularly to theaccompanying drawings, the reference character 5 indicates a continuousU-shaped sheet metal frame, having a groove 6 opening inwardly in ahorizontal plane to receive the lower convolutions of the border springs7 which are held securely therein by pinchingor compressing the metal ofthe frame 5 onto the lower convolutions of the border springs, asindicated at 8. This is an old construction and the inner springs aregenerally supported on U-bars 9, being pinched therein, and the barsgenerally pinched at their ends onto the border springs 8. p

The upholstery for spring structures for vehiclesand other purposes,generally consists of padding 10 and a covering 11, including a skirt12. The lower marginal edge of the skirt 12 is secured to the metal baseframe in various ways or to a wood base frame if the metallic U-shapedframe is mounted on a wood base. In the present instance, and as shownin Figs. 1 and 2,1 provide a clamping member formed to effect aconnection of the skirt with the metal base frame which strengthens thelatter and also protects the lower edge of the skirt from Wear. Forinstance, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, the skirt securing clamp may con-.sist of a strip of sheet metal folded longitudinally upon itself toprovide a lower flange 13 and an upwardly directed flange 14, with aninterveninginwardly opening continuous longitudinal groove 15, the wallsof which projectslightly outwardly beyond .the flange 14, as shown. Thegroove 15 of the clamping member is adapted to receive the U-shapedframe 5 and binds the mar- .ginal edge. of the skirt onto the U-shapedbase frame. The upper edge of the flange 14 ma be turned outwardly, asat 16, if

desire so as to obviate a sharp edge to prevent possible tearing of theupholstery skirt during application of the same, or when the completedarticle is in use. If desired, the upwardly directed flange of the claming member may be curved sli htly, as in icate'd at 17 in Fig. 3, rathert an as'shown ,in Figs. 1 and 2, as it will perform the functionsascribed to the upwardly directed skirt over the base frame.

flange shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In either form, the upwardly directedflange extends upwardly beyond the horizontal plane of the U-shapedbaseframe 5 and conceals and protects that portion of the skirt whichlies immediately above the base frame 5.

The spring structure having been built and it is desired to apply theupholstery covering, the latter is made up of the proper size and placedover the structure. The marginal edge of the skirt is folded under theU'-shaped base frame 5 and the clamping member described is applied tothe base frame'withthe groove 15 of the clamplng member embracing theU-shaped base frame to bind and secure the marginal edge of the Theclamping member may have the upper and lower walls of its groove 15pinched or compressed onto the upper and lower walls of the groove 6 ofthe base frame 5 to provide for a more positive tight embracing relationbetween the clamping member and the base frame,

thanis afforded by depending merely upon a snug tight fit of the wallsof the groove on the base frame. The clamping mem ber may be pinchedonto the base frame at intervals, as indicated at 18, or continuously,as may be desired.

As illustrated, the lower flange 13 of the clamping member extendsinwardly beyond the U-shaped base frame 5 and gives added strength tothe structure and takes the weight of the latter, giving greater widthto the base frame than that now afforded by the usual U-bar or U-shapedbase frame, considerably strengthening the latter horizontally. Theupwardly directed flange strengthens the base frame vertically. Theflange l4 and the'lower flange 13 with the walls of the interveninggroove 15 of the clamping member shield the marginal edge of the skirtand protect the same in use from wear incident to marring or abrasioncaused by friction between the seat structure and its support. Theclamping member also gives an ornamental appearance to the upholsteredstructure.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a form of the invention as applied to awood base 19 and to provide for thus mounting the upholstered springstructure, the lower flange 13-of the clamping member may beprovidedwith perforations 20 through which suitable fastenings 21 may pass intothe wood base 19 to secure't'he base frame 5, with the skirt appliedthereto, to the wood base, ob-

' viating necessity of stapling the base frame 5 or convolutionsofborder springs to the The perforations 20 need not be formed in theflange 13 to facilitate piercing'of said flange by the fastenings, forsuitable fastenings may be used topierce the said flange and wood base,simply by driving such fastenmgs through said flange into 7 frame 5.

the wood base as is well understood. In either event, the fastenings 21pierce the flange 13 and serve to secure together the clamp groove withthe U-shaped base frame 5, is such, owing to the flexibility of thesheet metal of which the base frame and clamping members are formed, asto provide for an effective tight connection for binding the skirtontothe base frame as'to obviate the necessity of pinching orcompressing the walls of'the groove 15 onto the base frame, asaforesaid, especially in View of the ends of the clamping memberbeingsecured together by pinching or indenting the metal at abutting ends, asindicated at 22. I

Thus it will be seen that the marginal edge of the skirt is tightly andeffectively secured to the base frame by means which not only effectsthe tight and effective connection but gives great strength to the sheetmetal base frame to prevent kinking or bending of the latter in use,said means effecting stability up and down and in and out with relationto the sheet metal base frame. It is apparent also that the marginaledge of the skirt is wrapped or passed over the base frame in such amanner as to be clamped thereon at at least three points, that is, it ispressed against the base frame at the top and bottom of the latterandalso at the bight portion or outer wall of the same.

What is claimed is:

1. Means adapted to connect the marginal edge of an upholstery skirt ofa spring structure to the base frame of the latter, comprising a stripof sheet metal folded longitudinally upon itself to provide spacedflanges and an inwardly opening longitudinal groove arranged at thejuncture between said flanges, said strip beingbendable to conform tothe contour of the base frame and to embrace the latter, said striphaving one flange adapted to extend under the base frame of the springstructure and having its other flange extending upwardly verticallyabove the base frame and arranged contiguous to the skirt to form aguard to shield the skirt a substantial distance above the base frame toprevent wear at the lower edge. of the skirt, both flanges beingunfiitudinally upon itself to provide spaced anges and an inwardlyopening longitudinal groove arranged at the juncture between saidflanges, said strip being bendable to conform to the contour of the baseframe and to embrace the latter, said strip having one flange adapted toextend under the base frame of the spring structure and having its otherflange extending upwardly vertically above the base frame and arrangedcontiguous to the skirt to form. a guard to shield the skirt asubstantial distance above the base frame to prevent Wear at the loweredge of the skirt, both flanges being unslitted, the strip having itsfree ends overlapping and where overlapped being secured together tothereby secure the strip tightly on to the base frame and bind themarginal edge of the skirt tightly against the base frame, the flangewhich extends under the spring structure being bent at intervals bypinching of the metal to bind such flange against the inner side of thebase frame, and thereby cooperate with the securing means at theoverlapping ends of the strip to prevent detachment of the strip fromthe spring structure.

3. Means adapted to connect the marginal edge of an upholstery skirt ofa spring structure to the base frame of the latter, comprising a stripof sheet metal folded longitudinally upon itself to provide spacedflanges and an inwardly opening longitudinal groove arranged at thejuncture between said flanges, said strip being bendable to conform tothe contour of the base frame and to embrace the latter, said striphaving one flange adapted to extend under the base frame of the springstructure and having its other flange extending upwardly verticallyabove the base frame and arranged contiguous to the skirt to form aguard to shield the skirt a substantial distance above the base frame toprevent wear at the lower edge of the skirt, both flanges beingunslitted, the strip having its free ends overlapping and whereoverlapped being secured together to thereby secure the strip tightly onto the base frame and bind the marginal edge of the skirt tightlyagainst the base frame, the flange which extends under the springstructure being bent at intervals by pinching of the metal to bind suchflange against the inner side of the base frame, and thereby cooperatewith the securing means at the overlapping ends of the strip to preventdetachment of the strip from the spring structure, and the strip beingpinched along the outer side of the groove so as to bind the marginaledge of the skirt between the walls of the groove and the base frame ofthe spring structure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ABRAM C. WISNER.

